𝙻𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎. - Reddie AU

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T/W: Slurs.

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What happened to make Richie want to leave? What happened to make it seem like nothing in this town was good enough to stay? On his long walk home, crying tears that had already mixed with his own blood that had gushed out of his nose, he decided that this town was bullshit.

And he had to leave.

It started as a normal day, not even the weather was different. It was overcast, not too warm and not too cold, not too bright but not too dim. The light shined into the empty classroom as the sound of slow wet noises filled the room.

The hands ran down the smaller boys waste gripping pulling him closer. "I uh...I think we should tone it down a little." Richie pulled back quickly whipping his bottom lip. "Huh?" His lips were bruised after a quick and heated make-out session. "Why? It's just fucking around..."

"He's getting suspicious," Connor mumbled looking out the window to try and avoid the disappointed glaze from the boy he was currently holding on a desk. "Your fucking cousin? Really?" Richie groaned placing his hand on the boy's chest.

"Richie.- You don't understand if he found out he'd.-" Richie cut him off quickly shoving the boy a little. "You're going to die in the closet for what?..For your cousins' approval?" Connor sighed moving closer cupping the boys' face. "I said slow down...not stop." 

Richie looked up lightly, the boys light blond hair flopping just above his green eyes while his bottom lip was pouting...he looked sad. "Ok, I uh...I guess I get it." Connor bent down slowly placing his lips against the other boys.

How could he stop himself?

Richie swung his arms around the back of his arms tugging the stupid hat he wore a little too often off of him. 

"Who the fucks in here?"

Connor scoffed pushing the boy back as he stumbled falling off the desk hitting his back on the wooden ground a little too hard. He let out a not so attractive yelp sitting up. "What the fuck was that you dick?!" 

Connor mumbled. "I'm not a little faggot why the fuck did you do that?!" Richie stumbled pushing off his hands to try and get up. "I didn't?!" "You little fucking flammer! Trying to bone my cousin?!" Echoed from the entrance of the classroom, and the one and only Henry Bowers was there.

He had the scariest grin on his face as if he could taste Richie's fear. 

That's when it happened, the worst beating of his life. Sure, he had gotten used to the first off punches that he had been receiving through the years but this was the worst.

His eye was completely swollen, his jaw was in so much pain he was convinced it was broken, his nose let out a loud crack by the seventh punch, and it was still dripping blood even when he was walking out of the school. His stomach, legs, arms and just his entire being hurt. 

He couldn't go home like this, his mum would freak out and probably call the cops, and she'd know. There was only one place he could actually go.

Edward Kaspbraks house. 

The guy was a complete health nut, to the point that it was worrying. So, he was a safe bet that he'd help him. 

He rose his hand giving a loud three and fast knocks, a crack in the door appeared as a small voice mumbled. "No ones home." Richie forced out a laugh. "Want some lollies then?" Eddie beamed opening the door quickly but keeping his eyes on the door handle. "Oh! Richie! It's you!- What the fuck?! You look like a beat-up rag?!" 

Richie winked. "Am I still handsome?" Eddie rolled his eyes dragging him in quickly. "Come on, my neighbours are noisy and mums not home." Richie nodded quickly. "Desperate for some Richie Tozier loving?" Eddie shook his head quickly sitting him down at the dining room table. "Stay here, don't touch anything." 

Richie nodded leaning on the table watching the boy scurrying to the top step. "Got it toots." The loud footsteps boomed through the house as Eddie ran back next to him, grabbing his face earning a small "ow" from him. "Sorry...what happened? Did it have to do with Connor?" 

Richie looked down mummering. "Henry, yes. Connor...somewhat." Eddie sighed starting to unpack the first aid kit. "Richie, I know...I know he's not your boyfriend but...it's bad, why?" Richie shrugged having his head forced up as the boy took off his glasses. "It makes me feel uh, alive? Loved?..wanted? I guess...after it, I feel like...cheap and down, but while it's happening it feels amazing." 

Eddie sighed finally dabbing some anti-bacterial stuff on the boys face with a cotton bud, cleaning the fresh wound across the bridge of his nose. "That sounds like an addiction Richie..." Richie shrugged squeezing his eyes shut to avoid the burning. "Uh, well... I don't know what to do...what if they tell everyone? That I'm...and...she...finds out."

Eddie nodded taking a bandaid unwrapping it in his hands. "Richie, she'll always love you.-" "Do you ever think about leaving?" Richie cut him off quickly, rubbing his palm over his own knuckle, Eddie froze looking up at the boys' sad glaze. "What do you mean leave? Rich if you're like suicidle.-" Richie cut him off quickly stiffening in his seat. "No! Eds! Like...leave the town."

Eddie sighed slouching back in his seat finishing up the bandaid. "Oh...yeah, of course. Like, leaving for college in like, three years." Richie shook his head groaning. "Like, run away Eds." Eddie shook his head. "No...never Rich." Richie nodded as Eddie continued on fixing him up. "So...you must think I'm crazy." Eddie shook his head quickly rubbing the boy's cheek to comfort him. "No Rich, I think you're scared...nothing will happen, ok?" 

Richie sighed looking off as the boy tilted his head to get a better angle.  "But what if.-" "Richie, everyone loves you. And I don't think that'll ever change, you're annoying and loud I'm pretty sure that would've driven everyone away before you being gay." Eddie cut him off furrowing his brows, Richie grinned laughing. "You love it Eds...it makes you so...chucklish." 

Eddie sighed, with a small grin across his lips, letting go of his face. "Nevermind, get out of my house." 

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A/N: Teeheeeeeee, hope you enjoyed! Bye!